Is It Normal for Progress Bar Not to Move When Repairing Permissions?

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Level 5

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Is It Normal for Progress Bar Not to Move When Repairing Permissions?

I apologize if this has been answered before. I searched prior to posting and could not find the answer. I've noticed that the progress bar in Disk Utility does not move when Repairing Permissions. A small bit of blue just sits at the far left end of the bar during the whole repair process without moving incrementally to the right. Then all of a sudden, the repair is complete. Everything seems to work and the repair operation is completed and it spits out the usual complement of messages about the permissions having been repaired (I understand that many of these messages are just kind of meant to be ignored).

I just had the occasion to work with my old flat panel iMac running Tiger and I did a permission repair and noticed that the progress bar dutifully indicated the progress of the repairs and did so very accurately. It worked the way I expect a progress bar to work.

Did something change with Snow Leopard or is it a quirk with my particular installation? Thanks.

Regards,
Steve M.

iMac 21.5 inch, 3.06 GHz, 4GB RAM, 1TB HD, Mac OS X (10.6.4), OWC Mercury Elite 1 TB HD (FW/USB), APC UPS

Posted on Mar 14, 2011 10:11 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

babowa

Level 9

78,097 points

Mar 14, 2011 10:24 PM in response to Steve M.

+A small bit of blue just sits at the far left end of the bar during the whole repair process without moving incrementally to the right. Then all of a sudden, the repair is complete. Everything seems to work and the repair operation is completed and it spits out the usual complement of messages about the permissions having been repaired (I understand that many of these messages are just kind of meant to be ignored).+

I've noticed the very same behavior; at first I thought it was going to take forever (because the progress bar would just sit there), so I'd walk away only to come back a minute later and it was all done. So I watched it the next time and I guess this is what it does.

And, as long as it says "repair complete" at the end, you're fine. The Java messages started with 10.6.4 I think and I've been waiting to have an update take care of them.

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Answer 2

Dimaxum

Level 5

5,997 points

Mar 15, 2011 1:35 AM in response to Steve M.

Hello Steve,

I can only confirm what Barbara is saying this.
I have the same behavior.

The progress Bar is NOT moving ... but repairing permissions is OKAY.

It takes about 2 to 3 minutes to finish the process.

Dimaxum

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Answer 3

Steve M. Author

Level 5

4,757 points

Mar 15, 2011 2:29 PM in response to babowa

Thanks for confirming what I've observed. Seems like the progress bar would be an easy fix in a future update. I'm sure the progress bar is not working as intended. I do get the "repair complete" message so I'm satisfied that permissions are being repaired. Likewise, I hope a future update will take care of all those Java messages!

Thanks again,
Steve M.

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Answer 4

Steve M. Author

Level 5

4,757 points

Mar 15, 2011 2:30 PM in response to Dimaxum

Thanks for the info Dimaxum.

Regards,
Steve M.

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Answer 5

babowa

Level 9

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Mar 15, 2011 4:05 PM in response to Steve M.

You're welcome and thanks for the feedback!

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Answer 6

Steve M. Author

Level 5

4,757 points

Apr 3, 2011 10:07 PM in response to babowa

Interesting, I just got to help setup a new Macbook Pro which I just updated to 10.6.7. I then repaired persmissions and noticed that the progress bar in permissions repair DOES move like one would expect. Kind of strange that it works one way on my iMac and another way (correctly I would say) on a new Macbook Pro both running the same version of the Mac OS.

Regards,
Steve M.

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Answer 7

Apr 3, 2011 11:55 PM in response to Steve M.

Oddly if you verify the disc first then when you mend permissions the status bar moves, if not it seems to stay static, its been like that since I first used 10.6.1

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Answer 8

Apr 4, 2011 1:25 AM in response to killhippie

My progress bar stays static whatever I do, verifying disk first doesn't make any difference. Also the "Estimated Time" at the start is very much longer than it actually takes. Actual time might be 3 - 6 mins., estimated time 20 - 25 mins., on one occasion 42 mins. Strange.

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Answer 9

Steve M. Author

Level 5

4,757 points

Apr 4, 2011 7:40 AM in response to cricketernot

Yes, I've noticed the same thing about the estimated time be quite long at the beginning of the permissions repair process. This is the same on both my iMac and my wife's new Macbook Pro.

Regards,
Steve M.

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Answer 10

frazzm737

Level 9

55,080 points

Apr 4, 2011 2:29 PM in response to Steve M.

I, too, have noticed this behavior. The progress bar does not move, but the permissions repair does complete its job. I mentioned this in another post--those who replied suggested that I leave well enough alone. This behavior started with the latest update. I'm glad to see that I am not the only one!

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Answer 11

Mini-Mac

Level 3

818 points

Apr 14, 2011 6:55 AM in response to frazzm737

Okay Im not the only one.

My wife and I Mac Mini's both display the same issue, however my MacBook Pro does not. All three computer have 10.6.7 installed.

The Mini's generally show 23-25 minutes with no progress bar indication, then after about 3-4 minutes it's repair permissions are complete. The MacBook Pro generally shows 8-10 minutes and the progress bar moves as it should, then after about 3-4 minutes it's repair permissions are complete.

All three computers display "repair permissions complete" message.

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Answer 12

Steve M. Author

Level 5

4,757 points

Apr 14, 2011 4:55 PM in response to Mini-Mac

That is just so weird that the progress bar move properly on your Macbook Pro (and my wife's new one also) but does not move as it should on iMacs and Minis all running 10.6.7. Very, very strange.

Regards,
Steve M.

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Answer 13

svkrzn

Level 1

75 points

Apr 15, 2011 1:34 PM in response to Steve M.

MBP with Mac OS X 10.6.7 and my bar is not moving either.

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Answer 14

Apr 18, 2011 9:11 AM in response to Steve M.

I have the same situation. Bar does not move on my iMac, but it does move on my daughter's MacBook Pro--both have the same software versions.

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Answer 15

Apr 18, 2011 4:58 PM in response to Steve M.

Same problem, with the added wrinkle that as soon as "repairs" are complete, if I hit the "repair permissions" button it seems to find just as many problems as if it had not just been repaired, and takes just as long--probably 10 minutes or a little more, thankfully not the hour plus that I'm told it will take.

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